Alas, how many hours and years have past,

Since human forms have round this table sate,

Or lamp, or taper, on its surface gleam'd!

Methinks, I hear the sound of time long pass'd

Still murmuring o'er us, in the lofty void

Of these dark arches, like the ling'ring voices

Of those who long within their graves have slept.

Orra, a Tragedy

While these measures were taking in behalf of Cedric and his companions,

the armed men by whom the latter had been seized, hurried their captives

along towards the place of security, where they intended to imprison

them. But darkness came on fast, and the paths of the wood seemed but

imperfectly known to the marauders. They were compelled to make several

long halts, and once or twice to return on their road to resume the

direction which they wished to pursue. The summer morn had dawned upon

them ere they could travel in full assurance that they held the right

path. But confidence returned with light, and the cavalcade now moved

rapidly forward. Meanwhile, the following dialogue took place between

the two leaders of the banditti.

"It is time thou shouldst leave us, Sir Maurice," said the Templar to

De Bracy, "in order to prepare the second part of thy mystery. Thou art

next, thou knowest, to act the Knight Deliverer."

"I have thought better of it," said De Bracy; "I will not leave thee

till the prize is fairly deposited in Front-de-Boeuf's castle. There

will I appear before the Lady Rowena in mine own shape, and trust that

she will set down to the vehemence of my passion the violence of which I

have been guilty."

"And what has made thee change thy plan, De Bracy?" replied the Knight

Templar.

"That concerns thee nothing," answered his companion.

"I would hope, however, Sir Knight," said the Templar, "that this

alteration of measures arises from no suspicion of my honourable

meaning, such as Fitzurse endeavoured to instil into thee?"

"My thoughts are my own," answered De Bracy; "the fiend laughs, they

say, when one thief robs another; and we know, that were he to spit fire

and brimstone instead, it would never prevent a Templar from following

his bent."

"Or the leader of a Free Company," answered the Templar, "from dreading

at the hands of a comrade and friend, the injustice he does to all

mankind."

"This is unprofitable and perilous recrimination," answered De Bracy;

"suffice it to say, I know the morals of the Temple-Order, and I will

not give thee the power of cheating me out of the fair prey for which I

have run such risks."




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